Liquid crystal display apparatus and method of manufacturing the same

ABSTRACT

Provided is a liquid crystal display (LCD) apparatus including: a first substrate including a first region realizing an image and a second region which transmits external light; a second substrate facing the first substrate; a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; a first polarizer arranged on a surface of the first substrate; and a second polarizer arranged between the second substrate and the liquid crystal layer and comprising a first polarization region positioned in the first region and a second polarization region positioned in the second region and having a polarization axis different from a polarization axis of the first polarization region.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No.10-2015-0022713, filed on Feb. 13, 2015, in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in itsentirety by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

A liquid crystal display (LCD) apparatus and a method of manufacturingthe same are provided, and more particularly, a see-through LCDapparatus capable of recognizing an image realized by a displayapparatus and an external background, and a method of manufacturing thesame are provided.

2. Description of the Related Art

With the development in various electronic devices such as mobilephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and large TVs, demand forflat panel display apparatuses that may be applied thereto hasincreased. Among flat panel display apparatuses, a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD) apparatus has the following advantages: low powerconsumption, the ability to easily display dynamic images, a highcontrast ratio, etc.

The LCD apparatus includes a liquid crystal layer disposed between twosubstrates and has a transmittance which is adjusted based anorientation of liquid crystals which is controlled by applying anelectric field to the liquid crystal layer.

Recently, research into a see-through LCD apparatus, via which a usermay recognize an image realized by the LCD apparatus as well as anexternal background, has been conducted.

SUMMARY

A see-through liquid crystal display (LCD) apparatus having an improvedtransmittance and method of manufacturing the same are provided.

Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description whichfollows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may belearned by practice of the presented embodiments.

An LCD apparatus includes: a first substrate including a first regionrealizing an image and a second region which transmits external light; asecond substrate facing the first substrate; a liquid crystal layerdisposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; a firstpolarizer arranged on a surface of the first substrate; and a secondpolarizer arranged between the second substrate and the liquid crystallayer and including a first polarization region positioned in the firstregion and a second polarization region positioned in the second regionand having a polarization axis different from a polarization axis of thefirst polarization region.

The polarization axis of the first polarization region may besubstantially perpendicular to the polarization axis of the secondpolarization region.

The polarization axis of the first polarizer may be substantiallyparallel to the polarization axis of the second polarization region.

The second polarizer may include a wire-grid polarizer (WGP).

The second polarizer may include a region where the first polarizationregion overlaps the second polarization region.

The region where the first polarization region overlaps the secondpolarization region may correspond to a boundary line between the firstregion and the second region.

The LCD apparatus may further include color filters respectivelyarranged in a first sub-pixel, a second sub-pixel, and a third sub-pixeland converting incident light into different colored light, wherein thefirst sub-pixel, the second sub-pixel, and the third sub-pixel areincluded in the first region.

The region where the first polarization region overlaps the secondpolarization region may correspond to a region between the colorfilters.

The color filters may be arranged between the second polarizer and theliquid crystal layer.

The first region and the second region may be alternately arranged inone direction.

The first region and the second region may be arranged in a checkeredpattern.

The LCD apparatus may further include a pixel electrode and a commonelectrode which generate an electric field in the liquid crystal layer,and the pixel electrode may not be arranged in the second region.

The LCD apparatus may further include a light guide panel arranged on asurface opposite to a surface of the first substrate which faces thesecond substrate, and a light source unit configured to emit lighttoward the light guide panel.

The light source unit may be arranged to face a side surface of thelight guide panel, and the light guide panel is formed of a materialwhich transmits light.

A method of manufacturing an LCD apparatus, includes: arranging a firstsubstrate including a first region realizing an image and a secondregion transmitting light; forming, on a second substrate, a secondpolarizer including a first polarization region and a secondpolarization region having a polarization axis substantiallyperpendicular to a polarization axis of the first polarization region;and aligning the first and second substrates and attaching the first andsecond substrate to each other such that the second polarizer faces thefirst substrate and the positions of the first and second polarizationregions respectively correspond to the positions of the first and secondregions.

The forming of the second polarizer may include: forming, on an entiresurface of the second substrate, a polarizer having a first polarizationaxis; forming a first polarization region by patterning the polarizerhaving the first polarization axis; forming, over the entire surface ofthe second substrate, a polarizer having a second polarization axisdifferent from the first polarization axis such that the polarizerhaving the second polarization axis covers the first polarizationregion; and forming a second polarization region by removing, from thepolarizer having the second polarization axis, at least some portions ofa region which covers the first polarization region.

The method may further include forming a first polarizer on a surface ofthe first substrate.

A polarization axis of the first polarizer may be substantially parallelto the polarization axis of the second polarization region.

The second polarizer may include a WGP.

The forming of the second polarization region may include forming thesecond polarization region such that at least some portions of theregion which covers the first polarization region are not removed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readilyappreciated from the following description of exemplary embodiments,taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1A is a schematic plan view of a liquid crystal display (LCD)apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 1B is a schematic plan view of a liquid crystal display (LCD)apparatus according another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line II-II′ of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line III-III′ of FIG. 1B;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line IV-IV′ of FIG. 1B;

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of an LCD apparatus according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D sequentially illustrate a method of forming asecond polarizer included in an LCD apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 7A and 7B sequentially illustrate some processes of a method ofmanufacturing an LCD apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view of a second polarizer included in an LCDapparatus of FIG. 3, according to an exemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an LCD apparatus accordingto an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As the inventive concept allows for various changes and numerousexemplary embodiments, particular exemplary embodiments will beillustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the writtendescription. The inventive concept may, however, be embodied in manydifferent forms and should not be construed as being limited to theexemplary embodiments set forth herein; rather, these exemplaryembodiments are provided so that this inventive concept will be thoroughand complete, and will fully convey the concept of the inventive conceptto those skilled in the art.

It will be understood that although the terms “first”, “second”, etc.may be used herein to describe various components, these componentsshould not be limited by these terms. These components are only used todistinguish one component from another.

An expression used in the singular encompasses the expression of theplural, unless it has a clearly different meaning in the context.

It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or“comprising” used herein specify the presence of stated features orcomponents, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or moreother features or components.

It will be understood that when a layer, region, or component isreferred to as being “formed on” another layer, region, or component, itcan be directly or indirectly formed on the other layer, region, orcomponent. That is, for example, intervening layers, regions, orcomponents may be present.

In the following examples, the x-axis, the y-axis and the z-axis are notlimited to three axes of the rectangular coordinate system, and may beinterpreted in a broader sense. For example, the x-axis, the y-axis, andthe z-axis may be perpendicular to one another, or may representdifferent directions that are not perpendicular to one another.

Sizes of components in the drawings may be exaggerated for convenienceof explanation. In other words, because sizes and thicknesses ofcomponents in the drawings are arbitrarily illustrated for convenienceof explanation, the following exemplary embodiments are not limitedthereto.

Hereinafter, the inventive concept will be described in detail byexplaining exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept with referenceto the attached drawings. Like reference numerals in the drawings denotelike elements, and repeated descriptions thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 1A is a schematic plan view of a liquid crystal display (LCD)apparatus 1 according to an exemplary embodiment, and FIG. 2 is across-sectional view taken along a line II-II' of FIG. 1A.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the LCD apparatus 1 may include a firstsubstrate 110 having first regions 100 realizing an image and secondregions 200 via which external light passes, a second substrate 120facing the first substrate 110, a liquid crystal layer 130 disposedbetween the first substrate 110 and the second substrate 120, a firstpolarizer 150 disposed on a surface of the first substrate 110, and asecond polarizer 140 disposed between the second substrate 120 and theliquid crystal layer 130 and including a first polarization region 141corresponding to the first region 100 and a second polarization region142 corresponding to the second region 200 and having a polarizationaxis different from a polarization axis of the first polarization region141.

The first substrate 110 and the second substrate 120 may be transparentsubstrates formed of glass or plastics, and the LCD apparatus 1 may be asee-through LCD apparatus via which a user may view an image realized bythe LCD apparatus 1 as well as an external background.

The first regions 100 and the second regions 200 may be alternatelyarranged along a first direction (an X direction). The first regions 100are arranged in a second direction (a Y direction) substantiallyperpendicular to the first direction and each of the first regions 100may include a first sub-pixel Psr, a second sub-pixel Psg, and a thirdsub-pixel Psb which respectively emit different colors of light. Thefirst sub-pixel Psr, the second sub-pixel Psg, and the third sub-pixelPsb may respectively emit red, green, and blue light, but the inventiveconcept is not limited thereto. The different colors of light may bedesignated by color filters (not shown) or color conversion layers whichare arranged to respectively correspond to the first to third sub-pixelsPsr, Psg, and Psb, and each of the first to third sub-pixels Psr, Psg,and Psb may be separated by a black matrix (not shown).

The second region 200 may be arranged between the first region 100arranged in one row and the first region 100 arranged in different row,and color filters and a black matrix may not be positioned in the secondregions 200. Each second region 200 transmits external light withoutdisplaying an image, and transparency of an entire portion of the LCDapparatus 1 may be improved by arranging the second regions 200 having ahigh transmittance.

The first polarizer 150 may be arranged on a surface of the firstsubstrate 110, and may be arranged on an entire portion of the LCDapparatus 1. That is, the first polarizer 150 may be arranged on thefirst regions 100 as well as the second regions 200 of the LCD apparatus1, and may be a conventional polarizer such as a film type polarizer.However, the inventive concept is not limited thereto, and the firstpolarizer 150 may be arranged between the first substrate 110 and theliquid crystal layer 130 and may be, for example, a wire-grid polarizer(WGP).

The first polarizer 150 may have a polarization axis of certaindirection, and light passing through the first polarizer 150 may beconverted into light polarized in a direction parallel to thepolarization axis of the first polarizer 150.

The second polarizer 140 may be arranged between the second substrate120 and the liquid crystal layer 130 and may include the firstpolarization region 141 positioned so that it overlaps with the positionof the first region 100 and the second polarization region 142positioned so that it overlaps with the position of the second region200 and having a polarization axis different from a polarization axis ofthe first polarization region 141. The polarization axis of the firstpolarization region 141 may be substantially perpendicular to thepolarization axis of the second polarization region 142, and apolarization axis of the first polarizer 150 may be substantiallyparallel to the polarization axis of the second polarization region 142.

Light incident from a source external to the first substrate 110 passesthrough the first polarizer 150 and may be converted into lightpolarized in the polarization axis of the first polarizer 150. The lightincident from the outside may be light incident from backlight or may benatural light.

In an optical path of the first region 100, light passing through thefirst polarizer 150 passes through the first substrate 110 and theliquid crystal layer 130 and then may be incident to the firstpolarization region 141 of the second polarizer 140. When there is nophase retardation caused by the liquid crystal layer 130, because thepolarization axis of the first polarization region 141 is substantiallyperpendicular to the polarization axis of the first polarizer 150, thelight incident to the first polarization region 141 may not pass throughthe first polarization region 141.

In the case in which the liquid crystal layer 130 does cause a phaseretardation of light passing through the first polarizer 150, the firstsubstrate 110 and the liquid crystal layer 130, a polarization axis ofthe light passing through the first polarizer 150 is rotated 90 degreesdue to the phase retardation caused by the liquid crystal layer 130, andthe light passing through the liquid crystal layer 130 may pass throughthe first polarization region 141 and then may be emitted to theexterior of the LCD apparatus. The liquid crystal layer 130 may bealigned in a certain direction due to an electric field, and the phaseretardation may be caused by the alignment of the liquid crystal layer130.

Although not illustrated, two electrodes (not shown) for applying anelectric field to the liquid crystal layer 130 and color filters (notshown) for providing a red, green, or blue color to the incident lightmay be arranged in the first regions of the first to third sub-pixelsPsr, Psg, and Psb.

In an optical path in the second region 200, light passing through thefirst polarizer 150 passes through the first substrate 110 and theliquid crystal layer 130 and then may be incident to the secondpolarization region 142 of the second polarizer 140. If the phaseretardation is not caused by the liquid crystal layer 130, because thepolarization axis of the second polarization region 142 is substantiallythe same as the polarization axis of the first polarizer 150, lightincident to the second polarization region 142 passes through the secondpolarization region 142 and may be emitted to the exterior of the LCDapparatus.

The second region 200 does not display an image and is used to improvethe transmittance of the LCD apparatus 1, and in the second region 200,at least one of the two electrodes (not shown) used to apply theelectric field to the liquid crystal layer 130 may not be arranged. Thatis, the liquid crystal layer 130 corresponding to the second region 200does not function as a phase retarder, and a polarization axis of lightpassing through the first polarizer 150 does not change due to theliquid crystal layer 130. Thus, the light may directly pass through thesecond polarization region 142.

The transmittance of the LCD apparatus 1 may be improved by improvingthe transmittance of the second regions 200.

The second polarizer 140 may be, for example, a wire-grid polarizer(WGP). The WGP may be formed of a regular array in which fine metalwires 140 a are arranged in parallel. A WGP performs the same functionsas a conventional polarizer, but may be easily patterned because the WGPis formed by arranging metal wires 140 a at intervals smaller than awavelength of light without performing orientation for materials. Thefirst polarization region 141 and the second polarization region 142 ofthe second polarizer 140 may be easily formed by patterning the samethrough photolithography. The formation of the first polarization region141 and the second polarization region 142 will be described later.

FIG. 1B is a schematic plan view of a liquid crystal display (LCD)apparatus 1 according to another exemplary embodiment, and FIG. 3 andFIG. 4 illustrate another embodiment of the LCD according to thedisclosure showing another arrangement of the LCD components than shownin FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line III-III′of FIG. 1B, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along a lineIV-IV′ of FIG. 1B.

Referring to FIG. 3, an LCD apparatus 2 may include a first substrate210 including a first region 100 realizing an image and a second region200 transmitting light, a second substrate 220 facing the firstsubstrate 210, a liquid crystal layer 230 disposed between the firstsubstrate 210 and the second substrate 220, a first polarizer 250arranged on a surface of the first substrate 210, and a second polarizer240 arranged between the second substrate 220 and the liquid crystallayer 230 and having a first polarization region 241 positioned tooverlap with the position of the first region 100 and a secondpolarization region 242 positioned to overlap with the position of thesecond region 200 and having a polarization axis different from apolarization axis of the first polarization region 241.

The first substrate 210 and the second substrate 220 may be substratesformed of glass, plastics, or the like, and the LCD apparatus 2 may be asee-through LCD apparatus via which the user may view an image realizedby the LCD apparatus 2 as well as an external background.

The second region 200 may be arranged between the first region 100arranged in one row and the first region 100 arranged in another row,and color filters (not shown) and a black matrix (not shown) may not beincluded in the second regions 200. The second region 200 transmitsexternal light without displaying an image, and transparency of anentire portion of the LCD apparatus 2 may be improved by arranging thesecond regions 200 having a high transmittance.

The first polarizer 250 may be arranged between the first substrate 210and the liquid crystal layer 230, and may be arranged on an entireportion of the LCD apparatus 2. That is, the first polarizer 250 may bearranged on the first region 100 as well as the second region 200 of theLCD apparatus 2 and may be a conventional polarizer that is of a filmtype.

The first polarizer 250 may have a polarization axis in a certaindirection, and light passing through the first polarizer 250 may beconverted into light polarized in the same direction as the polarizationaxis of the first polarizer 250.

The second polarizer 240 may be arranged between the second substrate220 and the liquid crystal layer 230, and may include the firstpolarization region 241 positioned to correspond to the position of thefirst region 100 and the second polarization region 242 positioned tocorrespond to the position of the second region 200 and having apolarization axis different from a polarization axis of the firstpolarization region 241. The polarization axis of the first polarizationregion 241 may be substantially perpendicular to the polarization axisof the second polarization region 242, and the polarization axis of thefirst polarizer 250 may be substantially parallel to the polarizationaxis of the second polarization region 242. The second polarizer 240 maybe, for example, a WGP.

Light incident from the outside of the first substrate 210 passesthrough the first substrate 210 and the first polarizer 250, and may beconverted into light polarized in the polarization axis of the firstpolarizer 250. The light incident from the outside may be light incidentfrom a backlight unit or may be natural light.

In an optical path of the first region 100, light passing through thefirst polarizer 250 passes through the first substrate 210 and theliquid crystal layer 230, and then may be incident to the firstpolarization region 241 of the second polarizer 240. When there is nophase retardation caused by the liquid crystal layer 230, because thepolarization axis of the first polarization region 241 is substantiallyperpendicular to the polarization axis of the first polarizer 250, thelight incident to the first polarization region 241 may not pass throughthe first polarization region 241.

In the case in which the liquid crystal layer 230 does cause a phaseretardation of light passing through the first polarizer 250, the firstsubstrate 210 and the liquid crystal layer 230, a polarization axis ofthe light passing through the first polarizer 250 is rotated 90 degreesdue to the phase retardation caused by the liquid crystal layer 230, andthe light passing through the liquid crystal layer 230 may pass throughthe first polarization region 241 and then may be emitted to theexterior of the LCD apparatus. The liquid crystal layer 230 may bealigned in a certain direction due to an electric field, and the phaseretardation may be caused by the alignment of the liquid crystal layer230.

A pixel electrode 260 and a common electrode 290 for applying theelectric field to the liquid crystal layer 230, and a color filter 270 rmay be arranged in the first region 100. The pixel electrode 260 and thecommon electrode 290 may be transparent electrodes. According to anexemplary embodiment, the pixel electrode 260 is arranged between thefirst substrate 210 and the liquid crystal layer 230, the commonelectrode 290 is arranged between the second substrate 220 and theliquid crystal layer 230, and the color filter 270 r may be arrangedbetween the second polarizer 240 and the liquid crystal layer 230. Anover-coating layer 280 covering the color filter 270 r may be furtherarranged on the second polarizer 240. However, the inventive concept isnot limited thereto, and according to a mode of an LCD apparatus,locations and types of the pixel electrode 260 and the common electrode290 may vary, and locations of the color filter 270 r (which may,alternatively, be blue or green in color) may also vary.

In an optical path in the second region 200, light passing through thefirst polarizer 250 passes through the first substrate 210 and theliquid crystal layer 230 and then may be incident to the secondpolarization region 242 of the second polarizer 240. If the phaseretardation is not caused by the liquid crystal layer 230, because thepolarization axis of the second polarization region 242 is substantiallyparallel to the polarization axis of the first polarizer 250, lightincident to the second polarization region 242 passes through the secondpolarization region 242 and may be emitted to the exterior.

The second region 200 does not display an image and is used to improvethe transmittance of the LCD apparatus 2. It is unnecessary to apply anelectric field to the liquid crystal layer 230, and according to anexemplary embodiment, the pixel electrode 260 may not be included in thesecond region 200.

The liquid crystal layer 230 positioned in the second region 200 doesnot function as a phase retarder. A polarization axis of light passingthrough the first polarizer 250 does not change due to the liquidcrystal layer 230, and the light may pass through the secondpolarization region 242.

The second polarizer 240 may include an area B where the firstpolarization region 241 overlaps the second polarization region 242. Thearea B may correspond to a boundary line between the first region 100and the second region 200. When the first polarization region 241 andthe second polarization region 242, which have polarization axes thatare substantially perpendicular to each other, overlap each other, lightincident to the area B may not pass through the area B. That is, thearea B may function as a black matrix that blocks light, and thus, it isunnecessary to additionally arrange a black matrix for defining thefirst region 100 and the second region 200.

Referring to FIG. 4, the LCD apparatus 2 may include the first sub-pixel(Psr of FIG. 1B), the second sub-pixel (Psg of FIG. 1B), and the thirdsub-pixel (Psb of FIG. 1B) included in the first region 100.

Color filters 270 r, 270 g, and 270 b for respectively providing colorsto light incident to the first to third sub-pixels Psr, Psg, and Psb maybe arranged, and the first polarization region 241 of the secondpolarizer 240 may be disposed between the color filters 270 r, 270 g,and 270 b and the second substrate 220. The polarizer used in the secondpolarization region 242 may also be arranged in an area of the firstpolarization region 241 where the color filters 270 r, 270 g, and 270 bare not arranged, that is, in spaces between the color filters 270 r,270 g, and 270 b (area B).

The area B where the first polarization region 241 overlaps the secondpolarization region 242 may be arranged between the color filters 270 r,270 g, and 270 b, and when the first polarization region 241 and thesecond polarization region 242, which have polarization axes that aresubstantially perpendicular to each other, overlap each other, the lightincident to the area B may not pass through the area B.

The area B may prevent color mixing between the first to thirdsub-pixels Psr, Psg, and Psb and may define the first to thirdsub-pixels Psr, Psg, and Psb. Due to the configuration of the area B, ablack matrix generally arranged to perform the above functions may beomitted.

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of an LCD apparatus according to anexemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 5, an LCD apparatus 3 includes a first region 100realizing an image and a second region passing through external light,and the first region 100 and the second region 200 may be arranged in acheckered pattern.

The first region 100 may include a first sub-pixel Psr, a secondsub-pixel Psg, and a third sub-pixel Psb which emit different colors oflight. The first sub-pixel Psr, the second sub-pixel Psg, and the thirdsub-pixel Psb may respectively emit red, green, and blue light, but theinventive concept is not limited thereto. The colors may be provided bycolor filters (not shown) or color conversion layers (not shown)arranged to respectively correspond to the first sub-pixel Psr, thesecond sub-pixel Psg, and the third sub-pixel Psb, and each of the firstsub-pixel Psr, the second sub-pixel Psg, and the third sub-pixel Psb maybe defined by a black matrix (not shown).

The second region 200 does not display an image, but passes externallight therethrough, and transparency of the LCD apparatus 3 may beimproved by arranging the second region 200 so as to have a hightransmittance.

FIGS. 6A to 6D sequentially illustrate a method of forming the secondpolarizer 140 included in an LCD apparatus of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIGS. 6A to 6D, operation of forming the second polarizer140 may include: forming a polarizer 141′ having a first polarizationaxis on an entire portion of the second substrate 120 as shown in FIG.6A. Forming a first polarization region 141 by patterning the polarizer141′ having the first polarization axis, as shown in FIG. 6B. Forming,over the entire surface of the second substrate 120, a polarizer 142′having a second polarization axis different from the first polarizationaxis such that the polarizer 142′ covers the first polarization region141, as shown in FIG. 6C. And forming a second polarization region 142by removing an area of the polarizer 142′ having the second polarizationaxis, wherein the area covers the first polarization region 141, asshown in FIG. 6D.

The polarizer 141′ having the first polarization axis and the polarizer142′ having the second polarization axis may be, for example, WGPs,which may be easily patterned, and the first polarization axis may besubstantially perpendicular to the second polarization axis.

The polarizer 141′ having the first polarization axis and the polarizer142′ having the second polarization axis may be easily patterned througha photolithographic etching process, and the first polarization region141 and the second polarization region 142 which are patterned mayrespectively be positioned to correspond to positions of the firstregion 100 and the second region, respectively, of the first substrate(110 of FIG. 2).

FIGS. 7A to 7B sequentially illustrate a method of manufacturing the LCDapparatus of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIGS. 7A and 7B, a method of manufacturing the LCDapparatus of FIG. 2 may include: arranging a first substrate 110including a first region 100 realizing an image and a second region 200passing external light therethrough; forming, on a second substrate 120,a second polarizer 140 including a first polarization region 141 and asecond polarization region 142 having a polarization axis that issubstantially perpendicular to the first polarization region 141; andaligning and attaching the first substrate 110 and the second substrate120 so that the second polarizer 140 faces the first substrate 110 andeach of the first polarization region 141 and the second polarizationregion 142 corresponds to each of the first region 100 and the secondregion 200.

The second polarizer 140 may be formed through processes of FIGS. 6A to6D, and referring to FIG. 7A, the first substrate 110 and the secondsubstrate 120 may be attached to each other by a sealant (not shown)after the first substrate 110 and the second substrate 120 including thesecond polarizer 140 are aligned.

Referring to FIG. 7B, after a liquid crystal layer 130 is formed byinjecting liquid crystals into an area sealed by the first substrate 110and the second substrate 120, the first polarizer 150 may be formed on asurface of the first substrate 110. In other words, the first polarizer150 may be formed on a surface of the first substrate 110 afterattaching the first substrate 110 and the second substrate 120.

However, the inventive concept is not limited thereto, and according toan exemplary embodiment, the first polarizer 150 may be formed on asurface of the first substrate 110 before attaching the first substrate110 and the second substrate 120.

The first polarizer 150 may be of a film type and may have apolarization axis that is substantially parallel to a polarization axisof the second polarization region 142.

FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view of the second polarizer 240 included inan LCD apparatus 2 of FIG. 3, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 8, the second polarizer 240 including the firstpolarization region 241 and the second polarization region 242 may bearranged on the second substrate 220 and may include the area B wherethe first polarization region 241 overlaps the second polarizationregion 242.

A method of forming the second polarizer 240 may be the same as themethod described with reference to FIGS. 6A to 6C and may furtherinclude forming the second polarization region 242 such that at leastsome portions of the region which covers the first polarization region241 are not removed.

That is, the second polarizer 240 may be easily formed by adjusting anopening of a mask used to form the second polarization region 242.

FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an LCD apparatus 4according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 9, the LCD apparatus 4 may further include a lightguide panel 310 arranged on a surface of the first substrates 110 and210 opposite to a surface facing the second substrates 120 and 220included in the LCD apparatuses 1, 2, and 3, and a light source unit 320for providing light to the light guide panel 310.

The light source unit 320 is arranged to face a side surface of thelight guide panel 310, and the light guide panel 310 may be formed of atransparent material. The light source unit 320 may be a light-emittingdiode (LED), or the like and may emit white light. However, theinventive concept is not limited thereto, and when the LCD apparatus 4includes color conversion layers formed of fluorescent substances,instead of color filters, the light source unit 320 may emit blue light.

Light emitted from the light source unit 320 may be incident onto thelight guide panel 310, and the light that is evenly spread onto a largearea of the light guide panel 310 and may be irradiated onto the firstsubstrates 110 and 210. When an image is not displayed, or when ambientlight is strong, the light source unit 320 may be turned off. When animage is displayed by only using ambient light, the light source unit320 may transmit the ambient light and may remain transparent. Whenambient light is too weak, the light source unit 320 may be turned on,and thus, the LCD apparatus 4 may implement an image.

As described above, according to the one or more of the above exemplaryembodiments, a see-through LCD apparatus having an improvedtransmittance and a method of easily manufacturing the same areprovided. However, the scope of the inventive concept is not limitedthereto.

It should be understood that the exemplary embodiments described thereinshould be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes oflimitation. Descriptions of features or aspects within each exemplaryembodiment should typically be considered as available for other similarfeatures or aspects in other exemplary embodiments.

While one or more exemplary embodiments have been described withreference to the figures, it will be understood by those of ordinaryskill in the art that various changes in form and details may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure,including the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A liquid crystal display (LCD) apparatuscomprising: a first substrate comprising a first region realizing animage and a second region which transmits external light; a secondsubstrate facing the first substrate; a liquid crystal layer disposedbetween the first substrate and the second substrate; a first polarizerarranged on a surface of the first substrate; and a second polarizerarranged between the second substrate and the liquid crystal layer andcomprising a first polarization region positioned in the first regionand a second polarization region positioned in the second region andhaving a polarization axis different from a polarization axis of thefirst polarization region.
 2. The LCD apparatus of claim 1, wherein apolarization axis of the first polarization region is substantiallyperpendicular to a polarization axis of the second polarization region.3. The LCD apparatus of claim 2, wherein the polarization axis of thefirst polarizer is substantially parallel to the polarization axis ofthe second polarization region.
 4. The LCD apparatus of claim 2, whereinthe second polarizer comprises a wire-grid polarizer (WGP).
 5. The LCDapparatus of claim 1, wherein the second polarizer comprises a regionwhere the first polarization region overlaps the second polarizationregion.
 6. The LCD apparatus of claim 5, wherein the region where thefirst polarization region overlaps the second polarization regioncorresponds to a boundary line between the first region and the secondregion.
 7. The LCD apparatus of claim 5, further comprising colorfilters respectively arranged in a first sub-pixel, a second sub-pixel,and a third sub-pixel and converting incident light into differentcolored light, wherein the first sub-pixel, the second sub-pixel, andthe third sub-pixel are included in the first region.
 8. The LCDapparatus of claim 7, wherein the region where the first polarizationregion overlaps the second polarization region corresponds to a regionbetween the color filters.
 9. The LCD apparatus of claim 7, wherein thecolor filters are arranged between the second polarizer and the liquidcrystal layer.
 10. The LCD apparatus of claim 1, wherein the firstregion and the second region are alternately arranged in one direction.11. The LCD apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first region and thesecond region are arranged in a checkered pattern.
 12. The LCD apparatusof claim 1, further comprising a pixel electrode and a common electrodewhich generate an electric field in the liquid crystal layer, whereinthe pixel electrode is not arranged in the second region.
 13. The LCDapparatus of claim 1, further comprising a light guide panel arranged ona surface opposite to a surface of the first substrate which faces thesecond substrate, and a light source unit configured to emit lighttoward the light guide panel.
 14. The LCD apparatus of claim 13, whereinthe light source unit is arranged to face a side surface of the lightguide panel, and the light guide panel is formed of a material whichtransmits light.
 15. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display(LCD) apparatus, the method comprising: arranging a first substratecomprising a first region realizing an image and a second regiontransmitting light; forming, on a second substrate, a second polarizercomprising a first polarization region and a second polarization regionhaving a polarization axis substantially perpendicular to a polarizationaxis of the first polarization region; and aligning the first and secondsubstrates and attaching the first and second substrate to each othersuch that the second polarizer faces the first substrate and positionsof the first and second polarization regions respectively correspond topositions of the first and second regions.
 16. The method of claim 15,wherein the forming of the second polarizer comprises: forming, on anentire surface of the second substrate, a polarizer having a firstpolarization axis; forming a first polarization region by patterning thepolarizer having the first polarization axis; forming, over the entiresurface of the second substrate, a polarizer having a secondpolarization axis different from the first polarization axis such thatthe polarizer having the second polarization axis covers the firstpolarization region; and forming a second polarization region byremoving, from the polarizer having the second polarization axis, atleast some portions of a region which covers the first polarizationregion.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising forming a firstpolarizer on a surface of the first substrate.
 18. The method of claim17, wherein a polarization axis of the first polarizer is substantiallyparallel to the polarization axis of the second polarization region. 19.The method of claim 16, wherein the second polarizer comprises awire-grid polarizer (WGP).
 20. The method of claim 16, wherein theforming of the second polarization region comprises forming the secondpolarization region such that at least some portions of the region whichcovers the first polarization region are not removed.